NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 29
Li Hui signaled Doctor Wang to attend to Lu XuanNing first. Doctor Wang took out a bottle of ointment, "This is my family's secret, top-grade wound medicine." Wen Zhu took it and applied the ointment to Li Hui's wounds, dressing them.
Doctor Wang treated Lu XuanNing's wounds. Li Chuan assisted him. Lu XuanNing's clothes were soaked in blood, so they were all cut off. His entire body was covered in wounds, both fresh and old. It was truly a miracle that he was still alive, Doctor Wang marveled as he worked.
After stitching up the wounds and applying the secret wound medicine, Doctor Wang bandaged them up. His arms were too exhausted to write, so he dictated the prescription for Li Hui to record.
Mrs. Lu entered and listened to Doctor Wang's instructions, "The patient may develop a fever tonight, so someone needs to monitor him. If the fever doesn't subside by morning, it could be dangerous. So you must pay close attention. Give him this medicine once every hour, four doses in total."
Mrs. Lu noted everything down. When Doctor Wang finished, Zizhou brought a tray with the consultation fee. "Doctor Wang, thank you for your hard work."
Seeing the generous amount of silver taels, far more than the usual fee, Doctor Wang immediately understood Mrs. Lu's intent and gladly accepted the payment.
"Li Chuan, please escort Doctor Wang back and fetch the medicine," Mrs. Lu instructed Li Chuan. Li Chuan took the prescription and saw Doctor Wang back to the pharmacy.
Mrs. Lu looked at Lu XuanNing, then approached Li Hui. "Hui'er, how are your wounds?"
"Mother, I'm fine, the wounds don't hurt," Li Hui replied, but a mother's heart still ached for her child.
"Go rest on the bed. I'll keep watch here," Mrs. Lu said, unwilling to leave Lu XuanNing's care to others.
Li Hui had lost a fair amount of blood from his own wounds and was feeling weak. Nevertheless, he shook his head. "Mother, I'll have someone keep watch over the manor." Those people might come back.
Seeing Li Hui's resolve, Mrs. Lu didn't press him further to rest, only cautioning him to be careful.
Li Hui changed his clothes and stepped outside, where Zhang Hu had already returned with his men. Zhang Hu approached and reported, "Young Master, they were all killed in the alley. Their deaths resembled those of the black-clothed men we encountered in Meng County."
"That can wait. First, arrange for the manor to be properly guarded tonight," Li Hui said, needing to secure their home in Li Ming's absence. Zhang Hu acknowledged the order and went to organize the patrols and defenses.
Li Xia and her party were returning to the magistrate's residence when they encountered Li Chuan at the side gate carrying medicine. Li Xia greeted him first, "Steward Li, what's the hurry?"
Li Chuan stopped and saluted, "Second Young Lady."
Li Xia noticed the medicine in his hands. "Steward Li, is that medicine for my elder brother? How is he doing?"
"The Young Master is severely injured. Second Young Lady, I must deliver this medicine," Li Chuan said hurriedly before departing.
Watching Li Chuan leave, Li Xia looked worriedly at the bloodstains on Liu Xiao's clothes. "Elder Brother lost so much blood. I wonder how he is now?"
Following Li Xia's gaze to her own clothes, Liu Xiao found the concern strange, as the blood wasn't Lu XuanNing's. However, she didn't contradict Li Xia, saying reassuringly, "The Young Master is blessed with divine protection. Second Young Lady needn't worry."
"Yes, with Father and Mother caring for him, they will surely call the best doctors to treat Elder Brother," Li Xia said, wiping away a non-existent tear from the corner of her eye.
"Second Young Lady, you must be tired as well. Please go and rest," Qiu Ju advised.
"All right, Liu Xiao, please inform Mother for me. I won't disturb them further," Li Xia said to Liu Xiao.
Liu Xiao acknowledged the request and led the others back, first changing out of her bloodied attire, as it wouldn't do to serve the mistress in such a state.
Li Xia, accompanied by Qiu Kui and Qiu Shui, headed for the Orchid Court. She could sense the commotion from afar. Upon arriving at the Orchid Court, she saw Auntie Mei pacing anxiously. Li Xia put on a smile, "Auntie, I'm back."
Hearing the voice, Auntie Mei stopped and looked at the approaching Li Xia, her eyes moist.
Seeing Auntie Mei's reddened eyes, Li Xia quickened her pace. "Auntie, I didn't—" Before she could finish, Auntie Mei reached out towards her. Li Xia retreated a step, covering her ears and exclaiming, "Auntie, that hurts!"
Amused by Li Xia's reaction, Auntie Mei pulled her close and thoroughly checked her over. Satisfied that Li Xia was unharmed, her lingering worries dissipated.
Li Xia, exhausted from being turned this way and that, couldn't help but yawn.
Seeing Li Xia's fatigue, Auntie Mei couldn't bring herself to scold her further. She personally helped Li Xia wash her face and hands, then tucked her into bed. As she pulled the covers over Li Xia, she heard her murmur drowsily, "Mother is so kind."
Auntie Mei's tears, which she had held back all night, fell. Not wanting to disturb Li Xia's slumber, she hurried outside and stood in the courtyard for a while to compose herself. Then she turned to the waiting Qiu Kui and Qiu Shui, saying, "Qiu Shui, you've worked hard tonight. Go and rest. Qiu Kui, keep watch over the Young Lady."
Qiu Kui and Qiu Shui acknowledged the instructions. Auntie Mei returned to the Plum Court, where Qiu Ju had already refreshed herself and was waiting. Qiu Ju softly relayed the information she had learned to Auntie Mei.
The sleeping Li Xia opened her eyes, dressed herself, and ensured Qiu Kui was stationed at the door to prevent any interruptions. She then fashioned a dummy on the bed with pillows.
Li Xia carefully opened the window and slipped out into the Pine Court. Using her wind blades, she knocked out the black-clothed intruder and dragged him to a secluded spot outside the city.
When the black-clothed man regained consciousness and saw Li Xia's smile, he felt as if a ferocious beast had him in its sights, ready to devour him at the slightest provocation.
"What is this for?" Li Xia asked, holding up a vial.
Recognizing the vial, the man's pupils constricted, but he remained silent. Li Xia made a shallow cut on his shoulder with her wind blade and tilted the vial, threatening to pour its contents on him.
"This is dissolution water. A single drop can dissolve a corpse entirely," the man rasped, prompting Li Xia to pause.
"That powerful? I don't believe you," Li Xia said, having witnessed toxic abilities in her previous world without such an extreme effect.
"What do you want?" the man asked, eyeing Li Xia's hand warily.
"I want to test this out." As she spoke, Li Xia dodged a knife thrust from behind, her wind blade slicing the attacker's throat. He fell, clutching his neck.
Li Xia used a wind suction technique to pull the fleeing man back, slamming him heavily onto the ground. His heart raced, wondering what formidable ability Li Xia had cultivated to slay without visible weapons.
Li Xia poured a single drop of the dissolution water onto the corpse, and it rapidly dissolved into a puddle.
"It really works," Li Xia marveled at the potent poison in this world. She turned to the man, "What's your name?"
After a moment's silence, he replied, "Tian Jiu."
Li Xia approached Tian Jiu. "Tian Jiu, let's make a deal. I spare your life, and you give me the formula for this dissolution water."
Tian Jiu looked at the young girl before him and closed his eyes, resigning himself to death.
"Have you heard of death by a thousand cuts?" Li Xia picked up a small knife and gently traced it along Tian Jiu's face. Unfazed, he remained motionless.
"Death by a thousand cuts involves binding the victim in a net, then slicing off the flesh protruding through the gaps until the bones are exposed, continuing until the victim dies. It's also known as flaying alive."